- Signs MoU with OandO Petroleum to convert all vehicles to CNG
- Pilot phase commenced with 8 buses
- State hosts maiden NTTCE conference in June
Bus Rapid Transits (BRT) in Lagos State will soon begin to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Dr. Frederic Oladeinde said yesterday.
Oladeinde said this is part of the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emission and GreenHouse Gases (GHG) produced by fossil fuel transport systems which are hurting the environment.
Oladeinde spoke at a press conference to herald the maiden edition of a 2-day National Transportation Technology Conference and Exhibition (NTTCE), which holds between June 7 and 8, 2022, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels at the Bagaulda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, ikeja.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the State Government and Oando Petroleum Ltd., to convert the buses from diesel to CNG.
According to him, eight buses are currently being converted in the pilot phase of the initiative pending when all the buses in the scheme would be converted. He said all concessionnaires operators would also be expected to follow the government’s example and convert their buses to CNG to support the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emission.
He said though the government hopes to soon deploy electric buses in the long run, it would in the interim key into converting the buses to CNG, which the nation have in abundance, while efforts are in place to get over infrastructure challenges militating against electric buses/cars deployment in the country.
According to him the forum is to afford the commissioners an opportunity of synchronizing strategies aimed at achieving a greener transport system in the country.
The event, which would be chaired by the Minister for Transportation Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, will have the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Commissioner of Transportation from the 36 states of the federation and a panel of experts and industry operators.
According to Oladeinde, the conference is geared towards improving efficiency and sustainability of transport technology solutions in Nigeria for proper implementation and development.
The conference, with the theme: Multimodality and accessibility: achieving a greener transport system in Nigeria, Oladeinde said will beam its searchlight on the road transportation sector which is perceived to have been ignored, and solutions will be proffered to issues such as traffic congestion, road accidents, parking problems and environmental pollution faced daily by the operators and users alike.
He said the coming together of all transport commissioners nationwide under one roof will provide a better avenue for seamless implementation for resolutions reached at the conference as leading manufacturers and providers of transport technology solutions will also be showcasing the latest and future-proved transport technology solutions at the first of its kind transport fair, which would be wrapped up by a gala and award night.
Secretary, National Transportation Commissioners Forum Mrs Chinwe Uwaegbute said Lagos was unanimously picked to host the maiden edition of the conference in order to allow other states to take a cue and learn from the state’s strides in intermodal transportation.
“It is a known fact that Lagos State has gone far ahead compared with other states in ensuring that Lagosians access affordable transportation as such Lagos State was chosen to assist in terms of the policy formulation and implementation strategies that will promote intermodal transportation in all states of the federation,” Mrs Uwaegbute said.